Medina County officials discuss keys to regional development plan

Updated September 3, 2013 at 3:21 PM;Posted September 3, 2013 at 3:20 PM

obrien-medina.JPG

Bethany Dentler, executive director of the Medina County Economic Development Corporation, said while a development such as this new Pat O'Brien Chevrolet dealership will benefit Medina, individual communities need to think more about development that will help the region as a whole.
(Donna J. Miller, The Plain Dealer)

"We
are trying to bring everyone together on regional levels to look at
shared problems everyone is facing," Benedict said. "We want to provide
them with data and analysis to help them make decisions on how to
provide sustainable development for the region."

Bethany Dentler, executive director of the Medina County Economic Development Corporation, has served on an economic development task force as part of the Vibrant NEO process.

Dentler said parochialism is proving to be a huge obstacle to implementing a regional development plan.

"Everybody has their own jurisdiction and they are so focused on that," she said. "Sometimes it's difficult to change that mindset. That's one of the biggest challenges we face."

Brunswick Economic Development Director Tim Smith said a new $14 million, 155-mile fiber-optic ring network throughout Medina County can be a tool to attract businesses to the county. However, his main goal is to make Brunswick more attractive to prospective developers.

"Brunswick is really one of the fastest-growing cities, economically and population-wise, in the area," Smith said.

Benedict said regional development should not continue as it has for the last few decades.

"The
big picture story of the region is that if we continue to do what we
have been doing, it's a little alarming for what it implies for the next
25-30 years," he said.

This scenario, which NEOSCC has dubbed
the "Trend Scenario," involves little population and job growth, more
suburban sprawl and not much focus on redeveloping inner-city areas and
inner-ring suburbs.

*
The "Grow the Same" scenario, in which population and jobs in the
region grow at the same rate as the rest of the country through 2040.

*
The "Do Things Differently" scenario, which involves reinvesting in
existing communities, limiting development in environmentally-sensitive
areas, increasing mixed-use development projects, expanding public
transportation and utilizing existing infrastructure as much as
possible.

* The "Grow Differently" scenario, which is a combination of the other two alternative scenarios.

Dentler said it is difficult to pick which scenario should be implemented, but she added that everyone should be on the same page with the final plan.

"The goals of the process were admirable in terms of building regional collaboration," Dentler said. "It's helpful to get as grassroots as possible and build support from the ground up. Otherwise, local communities don't feel involved."

Dentler said officials at the municipal level need to be more involved with regional development plans.

"It's hard sometimes for smaller communities to look at what's good for the region," Dentler said. "It may not be good for them."

Benedict said the two most important issues to residents have been environmental quality and economic vitality.

"The emphasis on basic environmental protections was a little surprising to me," Benedict said.

NEOSCC is in the last of its three-year planning process to help revitalize the 12 counties comprising Northeast Ohio.

"One
way or the other, NEOSCC ends at the end of 2013," Benedict said.
"NEOSCC is going to create a framework for regional development. How
it's done is up to the local elected officials."